Our Founder

Maroun Semaan
(1955 - 2017)

Maroun Semaan was the co-founder of Petrofac Limited, a former FTSE 100 Oil and Gas Services Company. During his tenure, Mr. Semaan served on the Board of Directors and held different positions including that of Chief Executive of Engineering & Construction, Group Chief Operating Officer and President when he retired from Petrofac on 31st December 2013.

After his retirement from Petrofac until he passed away in 2017, Mr. Semaan dedicated himself to the support of entrepreneurial endeavors that would have the potential to make a transformational socio-economic impact. With his direction and financial support, several successful businesses have been established in partnerships with prominent co-investors which resulted in the creation of hundreds of jobs, in addition to substantial economic returns for his investment partners.

Mr. Semaan served on several business boards and was a member of the Board of Trustees of The American University of Beirut (AUB) and The Board of Trustees of The American University of Sharjah (AUS). Mr. Semaan was also a founding member of the Board of Trustees of The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED).

In 2011, Mr. Semaan established the Semaan Foundation in Lebanon to support philanthropic activities in the fields of education, healthcare as well as social welfare. Through the Foundation, Mr. Semaan supported the ambitions of thousands of students across the region. Shortly before Mr. Semaan’s passing, The Semaan Foundation bestowed the AUB with the largest single donation in the university’s 150-year history. The Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) is named in his honor.